Collapsible container



Feb. 5, 1957" Filed Nov. 13, 1955 INVENTOR. Mose RoMANo ATTOIZNEYS 2,780,378 COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER Mose Romano, Istanbul, Turkey Application November 13, 1953, Serial No. 391,910

3 Claims. (Cl. 215-11) proved container for powder or other condensed liquid material, such as, for example, milk powder, the improved container being normally collapsed to a relatively small bulk but being extensible so that liquid may be added to the powdered material in the container in the necessary quantity to provide the required formula for an infant or other individual, the container being inexpensive to fabricate, being leak-proof, and being arranged so that a feeding nipple may be readily engaged on the container.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will bei come apparent from the following description and claims,

and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top view of a container constructed in accordance with the present invention, said container being shown in its normal, closed, collapsed position.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view, partly in vertical cross section, of the collapsed container of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view, partly in vertical cross section of the container of Figures 1 and 2 in extended position and provided with a baby nipple for use by an infant.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the illustrated container, generally designated 11, comprises an inverted circular pan-shaped top 12 formed of suitable, relatively rigid material, such as stifi cardboard or the like, said top wall being formed with an annular central neck 13. The upper edge of the neck 13 has thereon a downwardly ex.- tending internal flange 14 terminating above a reduced diameter lower portion 15 of the neck 13. The reduced diameter portion defines a shoulder 15 at its upper end which, with the flange 14, defines an annular slot normally receiving the peripheral edge of a closure disc 16 of cardboard or other suitable, relatively rigid material in sealing position in the neck 13. The sealing disc 16 is provided with a suitable finger tab 17 which may be grasped in order to pull the disc 16 out of the neck 13 to open the container.

The top 12 is provided on its lower edge with a downwardly and outwardly flaring flange 18 to which is secured the collapsible body 19 of the container. The body 19 comprising side walls having therein a plurality of annular accordion pleats 20 arranged on the same axis as the annular top wall 12, said pleats being interconnected to form a collapsible and extensible container which, as shown in Figure 3, may be extended to greatly increase the internal volume of the container. The body 20 is provided with a suitable bottom wall closing off the bottom of the container. The pleated main body 29 is nited States Patent formed of any suitable flexible waterproof material such as waxed stiff paper or light cardboard.

The container collapsed as shown in Figures 1 and 2, can contain a quantity of powdered milk or powdered food product, such as baby formula. To use the container, the closure disc 16 is removed, the container is extended to the position thereof shown in Figure 3, and the necessary quantity of liquid is poured into the container and thereby mixed with the powdered material therein, to produce a product suitable for drinking by an infant. When used as a feeding bottle for an infant, a conventional nipple 21 is engaged on the neck 13, the bot tom bead 22 of the nipple being sealingly received in the annular recess defined by the reduced diameter lower portion 15 of the neck, whereby the nipple is securely held on said neck. The uppermost pleat 20 of the container body 20 terminates in an upwardly and inwardly inclined flange 24 of larger diameter than but of the same angulation as the flange 18 on the lower end of the top 12. The top flange 18 is engaged within and is secured to the inner side of the body flange 24, whereby the top 12 is secured to the body 20.

After use, the nipple 21 may be removed and the container may be thrown away, since it has served its purpose. Therefore, the necessity of washing, sterilizing, or otherwise rehabilitating the container for further use is eliminated.

While a specific embodiment of an improved collapsible container has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a collapsible and expansible container, an accordion pleated side wall having an uppermost pleat terminating in an inwardly and upwardly inclined flange having an inner side, an inverted pan-shaped top having a depending downwardly flared flange, said flared flange being engaged within said inclined flange and secured to the inner side of the inclined flange.

2. In a collapsible and expansible container, an accordion pleated side wall having an uppermost pleat terminating in an inwardly and upwardly inclined flange having an inner side, an inverted pan-shaped top having a depending downwardly flared flange, said flared flange being engaged within said inclined flange and secured to the inner side of the inclined flange, said top having a central opening, an annular neck on and rising from said top around said opening, said neck having an upper end and a reduced diameter portion spaced below said upper end, said reduced portion defining internal and external shoulders at its upper end, an internal flange on the upper end of the neck having a lower edge spaced upwardly from said internal shoulder, said internal shoulder and the lower edge of said internal flange defining an annular groove, and a closure disc in said neck having a peripheral edge engaged in said groove.

3. In a collapsible and expansible container, an accordion pleated side wall having an uppermost pleat terminating in an inwardly and upwardly inclined flange having an inner side, an inverted pan-shaped top having a depending downwardly flared flange, said flared flange being engaged within said inclined flange and secured to the inner side of the inclined flange, said top having a central opening, an annular neck on and rising from said top around said opening, said neck having an upper end and a reduced diameter portion spaced below said upper end, said reduced portion defining internal and external shoulders at its upper end, an internal flange on the upper end of the neck having a lower edge spaced upwardly from said internal shoulder, said internal shoulder and the lower edge of said internal flange defining an annular groove, and a closure disc in said neck having a peripheral edge engaged in said groove, said external shoulder being spaced upwardly from and Withsaid top defining an external annular groove, and a feeding nipple engaged over said neck and having a lower end including a brad engaged in said external groove.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNETED STATES PATENTS 1,064,787 Taylor June 17, 1913 4 Devine Jan. 10, Lillford June 25, Barrett June 23, Nadelson Sept. 14, Schmid June 11, Cordwell Jan. 9, Bradley Nov. 18, Trout Aug. 22, Ridnour July 14, Krasno Aug. 3, 

